Seattle has buses. (Really, they're throughout King County, and reach into the neighboring counties, too.) Use them! In which case you might as well find a place to live along a line. One line at a time. Here's the next one, selected at random for the fun of it.
From Renton to Renton, Route 105 runs from the Highlands to Downtown, Renton that is. It's a city too, so of course it should have a route of its own. One handy feature: the ride only takes 20 minutes.
↑ Give a place a porch and it can seem more welcoming. If nothing else, it is handy to have a dry place to set your bags when you fumble for your keys. Guests might appreciate it, too. The 1998 townhouse looks like a house, but it's attached, somewhere. They're asking $315,000 for 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, and 1,610 square feet; but the listing photos show a space that is bright and light thanks to either good architecture, good weather, or a good photographer. The building is less than twenty years old, but they've updated the kitchen and bath like many sellers do. Your benefit.
↑ A townhouse with a full-fenced yard sounds like a home for more than just the people because the pets might be happy, too. For $379,950 you can get a 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2,493 square foot townhome that's less than ten years old. Arches in niches and between rooms soften the tendency towards basic boxes. Recessed ceilings in the dining room and master suite also break up the possibility of big, flat surfaces. Add the distinctive paint job for several of the rooms, and you've got - well, hopefully a house and a home in town.
↑ A house can cost less than a townhouse; especially, if it is from 1963. Sometime in there they updated the kitchen. Appliances only last so long anyway. As for the rest of the 3 bedroom, 2 bath house, there are a few parts that maintain that mid-century feel. Maybe you want a bit of throwback. Maybe you like a wood-paneled basement with funky, angular carpeting, and a brick fireplace. If so, the asking price is $309,950 for the house and the 9,047 square foot lot. In today's market, that may even be enough space to build another (tiny) house.
↑ Were the craftsmen in 1907 better than today's craftsmen and craftswomen? There's a 1907 Craftsman for sale at $299,000 that has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and 1,050 square feet on a 4,500 square foot lot. One testament to the build quality is that the house has survived over a hundred years. Inside, it looks current enough. Outside, it looks fine with only a few hints of age that are matters of style and choice, not maintenance. The porch, doors, and windows are a bit narrower from a time before window walls and sliding glass doors. Less to wash that way.
↑ Here is proof that tiny houses have been around for decades. At 600 square feet, this 2 bedroom, 1 bath may be considered big by some tiny house advocates; but it is far smaller than the average modern house. It has been around since 1943, so decades of living tiny have already happened and proved the space. The listing price is $234,900 for the house and the 9,583 square foot lot, which is ironic because the tiniest and cheapest house on this list of five also has the largest lot. For minimalists who don't need or want much indoors, that could be just right. Besides, a tiny house on a large lot provides plenty of room for enjoying our fine weather, growing a garden, parking your RV, or more creative ideas.
· Route 105 [Metro]
· All Bus Tours coverage [CS]
Written by Tom Trimbath